Tulloch Shook Nerves, Dominated Javelin
Valerie Tulloch of Rice was the first freshman woman to win an NCAA Division I javelin title, but a case of bad nerves had her on the brink of missing the final in her 1992 debut.
Tulloch was the seasonal collegiate leader going into the meet at 55.14m (180-11), yet fouled on her first two attempts before landing in the final with a 49.84m (163-6) effort to secure three more attempts.
It wasn’t until the final round that Tulloch finally took control, heaving the spear 58.26m (191-2) for a PR by over 10 feet and the meet’s largest-yet margin of victory at 5.52m (18-2).
“I’ve never been that nervous in all my life,” Tulloch said. “Everything was so smooth on my last throw. I collected myself and put it all together.”
Tulloch’s victory that year started what remains the best four-year stretch by any javelin thrower – man or woman – with three firsts and a second, winning in 1994 and 1995 after being runner-up in 1993.
Tulloch showed uncanny brilliance and consistency in all four of her NCAA meets – her best throws in each NCAA championship represented her collegiate seasonal best each year, and all were within a 2-meter range of 56.56m (185-7) and 58.54m (192-1).
Tulloch’s final win in 1995 made her not only the first female javelin thrower with three NCAA titles but her winning effort of 192-1 also made her the meet’s first with throws of over 190-feet in multiple years.
The NCAA and collegiate track & field will mark a momentous milestone in the spring of 2021 -- the 100th anniversary of the NCAA Championships and with that, the NCAA Track & Field Championships. In June 1921, the University of Chicago hosted the first track & field championships in NCAA history.
This point can’t be emphasized enough: Not only was the event the first for NCAA track & field, but the first championships for any sport under the sponsorship of the NCAA.
To celebrate, over each of the next 365 days, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) will celebrate moments, student-athletes, and coaches that have made a century’s worth of championships special. From humble beginnings to important historical milestones to the modern-day, collegiate track & field has evolved with the American society.
The 2021 edition of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin with preliminary round action on May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla., and College Station, Texas. The championships final site and culmination of the celebration is slated for June 9-12, 2021 at the newly rebuilt Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
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Brown Paced Tennessee To 1974 Team Title
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Ellis Sent USC To A Thrilling Victory
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Paige Turned Three NCAA Mid-Distance Titles
Don Paige won three career titles at the NCAA DI Outdoor T&F Championships, including a 800-1500 sweep in 1979.